In the rapidly evolving landscape of mental healthcare, the integration of digital tools designed to capture patient feedback and experiences is transforming traditional therapeutic practices. A groundbreaking qualitative study conducted in Norway delves deeply into how electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) are being experienced by both therapists and patients within community mental health services. This research illuminates key insights about the digital transformation in mental health treatment, capturing the nuanced interplay between technology, patient engagement, and clinical outcomes.
The study illustrates that the shift toward electronic PROMs and PREMs is not merely a technical upgrade but a profound alteration of the therapeutic process. Both therapists and patients initially encountered significant barriers related to the lack of proper information and guidance on the digital questionnaires. This finding underscores an essential prerequisite for digital health tools: comprehensive orientation and systemic support to ensure effective adoption and meaningful use of these instruments in real-world settings.
Despite early difficulties, the implementation of electronic PROMs and PREMs fostered a deeper awareness among patients about their symptoms and daily-life challenges. This heightened self-awareness empowered patients to actively participate in setting therapeutic goals, thereby enhancing the patient-centeredness of mental health care. This shift not only improved communication between therapists and patients but also enabled a more tailored approach to treatment, which aligns with modern precision medicine principles.
Therapists reported that the availability of real-time, patient-provided data enhanced their understanding of patient experiences and adherence to treatment protocols. Access to PROMs and PREMs allowed clinicians to pose more relevant and timely questions, addressing issues that directly impact patient well-being and treatment engagement. This feedback loop is pivotal for mental health interventions, where subjective experience is central to diagnosis, monitoring, and recovery.
From a technical perspective, the study sheds light on some of the systemic challenges in deploying electronic outcome measures. It draws attention to the need for integrating user-friendly interfaces and ensuring accessibility across diverse patient demographics to avoid disparities in care quality. Furthermore, the accuracy and privacy of electronically collected data remain paramount, necessitating robust cybersecurity measures and ethical data management protocols.
The qualitative methodology employed, involving focus groups with therapists and individual interviews with patients undergoing low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy, provided rich, context-specific data revealing the lived experiences of stakeholders. This methodology allowed the researchers to capture complex psychosocial dynamics often missed by quantitative assessments, thereby deepening understanding of both the promises and pitfalls associated with digital PROMs and PREMs.
Interestingly, the study articulates that patients valued not only the functional aspects of electronic questionnaires but also the empathetic responsiveness and professional skills of their therapists. This finding highlights an essential human dimension: technology enhances but does not replace the therapeutic alliance, which remains a cornerstone of effective mental healthcare.
Implementation science also benefits from this study’s insights, as it delineates practical strategies to overcome barriers, such as providing comprehensive instructions and creating support systems for patients unfamiliar with digital tools. The research insists that successful digital health innovation requires attentiveness to workflow integration, user education, and continual feedback mechanisms, ensuring sustained engagement over time.
The role of electronic PREMs in capturing patients’ perceptions of therapist attitudes and treatment impact emerged as a critical determinant of treatment satisfaction. Patients underscored that their experiences were profoundly influenced by the quality of interpersonal interactions, suggesting that digital tools must be designed to complement, not disrupt, therapeutic rapport.
This study’s implications resonate globally, offering a model for other community-based mental health services contemplating the integration of electronic PROMs and PREMs. By demonstrating that these measures can be integrated successfully when barriers are proactively addressed, it encourages broader adoption of digital patient feedback systems aligned with contemporary healthcare quality improvement initiatives.
Technological advancements in mental health diagnostics and monitoring stand to benefit greatly from integrating electronic PROMs and PREMs. As health systems worldwide grapple with increasing demand and finite resources, digital tools enable scalable, continuous patient assessment that informs personalized and adaptive treatment plans, potentially improving long-term outcomes.
In conclusion, the Norwegian study contributes critical evidence that electronic patient-reported measures—when carefully implemented with attention to user needs and systemic supports—can significantly enhance mental health treatment. It calls for investment not only in advanced digital platforms but also in education, therapeutic communication, and ethical governance to harness the full potential of technology in mental health care.
This research opens avenues for future studies focused on optimizing the design, deployment, and clinical integration of electronic PROMs and PREMs. It advocates for a balanced approach that weds technological innovation with human-centered care, promising a new paradigm in which mental health services are more responsive, data-driven, and attentive to the lived experiences of those they serve.
Subject of Research:
Experiences of therapists and patients with electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) within community mental health services.
Article Title:
Therapists’ and patients’ experiences with electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) before and during treatment in community mental health services: a qualitative study in Norway.
Article References:
Roos, E., Molden, T.H., Lindberg, M.S. et al. Therapists’ and patients’ experiences with electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) before and during treatment in community mental health services: a qualitative study in Norway. BMC Psychiatry 25, 1089 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07541-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 13 November 2025
